Pouch area marking control for pouch packaging machines



POUCH AREA MARKING CONTROL FOR POUCH PACKAGING MACHINES Filed March 9,1961 Jan. 29, 1 F. M. WILLBRANDT 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. flank/m M.M/Marcmd/ WOMWX AT TORNEY Eff.

Jan. 29, 1963 O F. M. WILLBRANDT 3,

POUCH AREA MARKING CONTROL FOR POUCH PACKAGING MACHINES Filed March 9,1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOA 505 506' 500 J -4' INVENTOR. J/an/r/m MVW/b/and/ j ATTORNEY Jan. 29, 1963 F. M. WILLBRANDT 3,075,328

POUCH AREA MARKING CONTROL FOR POUCH PACKAGING MACHINES Filed March 9,1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 63B 5 we 53D ATTORNEY United States Patent3,075,328 POUCH AREA MARKING CONTROL FOR POUCH PACKAGING MACHINESFranklin M. Willbrandt, Battle Creek, Mich, assignor to Battle CreekPackaging Machines, Incorporated, Battle Creek, Mich.

Filed Mar. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 94,578 9 Claims. (Cl. 53-51) This inventionrelates to improvements in pouch area marking control for pouchpackaging machines. The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a pouch packaging machine of the type which receivesarticles to be packaged on a continuously advancing Web of packagingmaterial and thereafter encloses the articles in a pouch formed of thepackaging material with means for marking the incoming web of materialto indicate the article receiving areas and for quickly and accuratelyadjusting the marking means to define a variety of different pouch areasin registry with the pouch forming elements of the machine.

Second, to provide adjustable control means for 11 ulating the frequencyof actuation of the pouch type packaging machine and for separatelyactuating the adjustable pouch area marking device cooperative with theinfeeding web of packaging material so that the length of the pouchformed by the machine can be easily adjusted along with the speed withwhich the pouches are formed.

Third, to provide a'pouch type wrapping machine with means for adjustingthe frequency of actuation of the pouch forming means relative to thefrequency of a pouch area marking device and for further adjusting theposition at which the pouch forming means will operate linearly withrespect to the pouch area indicia marked on the web of wrappingmaterial.

Fourth, to provide a continuous pouch type packaging machine which caneasily and rapidly be adjusted to package a wide variety of differentshapes and length of articles.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from aconsideration of the following description and claims. The drawings, ofwhich there are three sheets, illustrate a highly practical form of thepouch length adjusting mechanism of a pouch type packaging machine.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view .of-a pouch type packagingmachine with the pouch length adjusting mechanism incorporated therein.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevational view of the oppositeside of the packaging machine from FIG. 1 illustrating the drivingconnections to the several parts of the machine.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of the pouch area printercontrol, the view being taken generally along the plane of the line 3-3in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view through the printer controltaken along the plane ofthe line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the pouch forming control takenalong the plane of the line '5-5 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken along theplane of the line 6-6 in FIG. 5 and illustrating the mechanism foradvancing and retracting the time of actuation of the pouch formingmechanism relative to the pouch area marking mechanism.

Patented Jan. 29, 1963 ice The pouch packaging machine so far as thepouch forming and sealing elements thereof are concerned, is of the typedisclosed in the co-pending application, Serial No. 848,250 filedOctober 23, 1959, now Patent No. 2,996,- 860' for Pouch Area Marker andPouch Packaging Machines. Only so much of the structure of the pouchforming mechanism will be described as is necessary to explain therelationship of the adjustable control mechanism relative thereto. Asappears generally in FIGS. 1 and 8, the machine consists of suitableframe elements 11 supporting an infeeding conveyor 2 and a pouchforming, sealing and severing mechanism enclosed in the case .3. All offfeeding conveyor 4 for the packaged articles delivers from the oppositeside of the machine.

A continuous bottom web 5 of packaging material is drawn in from thesupply roll 6 along the infeeding conveyor. The web 5 passes under anelectrically actuated v printing device 7 having a solenoid 8 arrangedto imprint any desired indicia on the web at the infeeding end of theconveyor. It will be appreciated that by timing the actuation of thesolenoid 8 relative to the rate of travel of the conveyor 2 and web ,5 aseries of packaging or pouch areas can be created on the web 5 andoperators may place articles A to be packaged on the conveyor at theproperly indicated areas on the web as the Web is advanced to the pouchforming mechanism 3.

Within the pouch forming mechanism 3 there are provided pairs of upperside sealing rolls 9 and lower side sealing rolls 10 which are rotatedin sealing andcrimping engagement with the side edges of the infeedingweb 5. In the example illustrated a top sealing web 11 is drawn inwardlyfrom the supply roll 12 and sealed to the bottom web 5 over the articlesplaced on the bottom web.

After the top and bottom packaging webs have been scaled together onopposite sides of the articles the web is advanced to the right as shownin FIG. 1 and to the left as shown in FIG. 2. In order to seal the twowebs transversely between the articles A and if desired to sever the webinto separate pouches, the web is advanced between parallel uprightrocker arms 13 which are pivoted below the conveyors 2 and 4 on a camshaft 14. The rocker arms form slides or guide ways for slide members 15supporting a transverse sealing bar 16 and knife 17. The sealing bar andknife coact with an abutment 18 carried between the rocker arms insupporting relation to the sealed webs being delivered from the rollers9 and 10. In their lower ends the slide members 15.carry cam-followers19 which are engaged and actuated by earns 20 onthe cam shaft to raiseand lower the sealing bar 16 and knife 17. The upper ends of the rockerarms 13 are oscillated forwardly and rearwardly by sprockets 21 havingcrank pins 22 engaging the rocker arms and the sprockets 21 are drivenin timed relationship with the cam 20 by a chain 23 driven from the camshaft 14 so that the slide and knife 17 descend when the rocker arm isadvanced to the left in FIG. 2 to sever a newly formed pouch and retractFIG. 7 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electrical upwardly as thesupport 18 retracts under the incoming web and articles.

In order to provide for a wide variety of timing adjustments between thespeed of the feeding conveyor 2, the frequency of the actuation of theprinter 7 and the frequency of the actuation of the slides LES-and therocker arms 13, separate driving connections are provided to the camshaft 14 and to the infeeding conveyor 2 and to the side sealing rolls 9and 10. The cam shaft 14 is driven by a chain 123 from an electricallyactuated one revolution clutch 24 having a control solenoid The drivenpart of the one revolution clutch is continuously driven by a chain 26from a speed reduction transmission 27 and motor 28 shown conventionallyin FIG. 1.

The transmission 27 also drives a chain 29 driving a main drive shaft30. On the side of the machine shown in FIG. 1 the shaft 30 drives aselectively interchangeable gear 31 engaged with a second selectivelyinterchangeable gear 32 mounted on the crank plate 33. The gear 32meshes with a gear 34 which drives the chain 35 to the infeedingconveyor 2. By selecting the desired gear ratio between the gears 31 and32 and adjusting the crank plate 33 to mesh the gears, the speed of theinfeeding conveyor 2 may be adjusted.

The shaft 3% also drives a chain 36 appearing in FIG. 2 to drive theselectively interchangeable gear 37 which meshes with a selectivelyinterchangeable gear 38 carried on the crank plate 39. The gear 3%drives through a pinion 4th to the gear 41 and through a connected chain42 to the lower sealing rolls lit). The speed of the side sealing rolls9 and can thus be adjusted to the same speed as the infeeding conveyor2.

In order to provide additional adjustment of the speed of the sidesealing rolls relative to the timing of the transverse sealing bar 16and to variably actuate the printing device 7, the drive shaft 36continuously drives a chain 43 trained over the sprocket 44 and thesprocket 45. The sprocket 44 drives a first selective switch operatingtransmission generally indicated at '16 in FIG. 2, and a secondselective switch actuating transmission generally indicated at 47. Theswitch transmission 46 functions as will be described in greater detailpresently to actuate the solenoid 25 of the one revolution clutch andinitiate a sealing and severing cycle of the rocker arms 13 and sealingbar 16. The transmission 47 functions to actuate the solenoid 8 of theprinter 7 at selectively timed intervals as will be described.

The printer actuating transmission and the electrical connectionsthereto is best illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7 which illustrate thechain 43 to be drivingly connected to a shaft 48 having a plurality ofdifferent sized gears 49A, 49B, 49C, 49D and 49B drivingly connectedthereto. The gears 49 continuously mesh with mating gears 50A, 56B, 50C,50D and 565 which necessarily vary in size inversely with the gears 49.The gears WE and 59E are of equal size for a l to 1 driving ratio. Eachof the gears 50A through E carry a disc 51 with a tappet 52 projectingtherefrom and the several tappets 52 are arranged to trip and closeelectrical switches 53 mounted on supports 54 below and between thegears 49 and 5%. As is shown most clearly in the circuit diagram of FIG.7 the switches 53A through E are connected on one side in parallel tothe solenoid 8 of the printer. On their other sides the switches 53 areconnected separately to the terminals 55 of a selector switch 56 havingan adjustable contact 57. By adjusting the switch 56 and its contact 57,the printer 7 may be actuated at different speeds or frequenciesrelative to the infeeding speed of the conveyor 2. and the bottom web 5.This will obviously create pouch areas of different lengths on the web 5which can be made to correspond to the length of articles which it isdesired to package.

The rocker arms 13 and transverse sealer and cutter 16-17 are actuatedas previously described through one cycle of operation on each actuationof the solenoid 25 of the one revolution clutch 24. The solenoid 25 isselectively actuated by the transmission 46 driven concurrently with thetransmission 47 by the sprocket 44. The transmission 46 is shown indetail in FIGS. 5 and 6 wherein a first series of gears 58A, 5813 etc.are drivingly mounted on a shaft 59 and meshed with mating gears 60A,603 etc. on the shaft 61. The shafts 59 and 61 are carried by suitablebrackets 62 above the sprocket 44. The gears 66A, B etc. each carry adisc 63 having a pawl 64 thereon arranged to contact and close a switch65A or B etc. As is shown in the wiring diagram FIG. 7 one side of theswitches 65 are connected in parallel to the solenoid 25 While the othersides of the switches are connected separately to the selectiveterminals 66 of a selective switch 67 having a moveable contact 68. Byadjusting the contact 68 the solenoid 25 and the transverse sealer andcutter actuated thereby can be made to operate at various frequenciesrelative to the actuation of the printer 7. For example, the transversesealer can be set to operate between every printed indicia at theseveral difierent spacings available with the switch 56 or thetransverse selector can be made to operate between every other printedindicia. This permits a wide range of adjustments of the pouch lengthscreated by the machine.

Without further structure the transverse sealer and cutter would operateat a given position on the web relative to the printed indicia due tothe simultaneous and equal speed of the transmissions 46 and 47.However, in order to permit adjustment of the cut-off positionlongitudinally of the web relative to the indicia marks a differentialdrive is provided between the chain 43 and the shaft 59. Thisdifferential drive shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 consists of a gear 69 drivenby gear 169 which is connected to the coaxial sprocket 4d and chain 43.The gear 69 is connected by a sleeve '79 to a bevel gear '71 surroundingthe shaft 5% and rotatable relative thereto. Positioned around the bevelgear 71 is a combined ring gear and carrier 72 having a pair ofplanetary gears 73 mounted on stub shafts perpendicular to the shaft59'. The bevel gears 73 mesh with the bevel gear 71 and also with afourth bevel gear 74 pinned to the shaft 59.

By a well known differential action rotation of the gear 69 and bevelgear 71 is transmitted through the bevel gears 73 to the bevel 74 andshaft 59 at a fixed ratio so long as the ring gear and carrier 72 isheld stationary. In order to introduce a differential drive and advanceor retard the rotation of the shaft 59 relative to the chain 4.3 and theprinter transmission, a worm gear '75 carried by brackets 76 is meshedwith the ring gear 72 and connected by means of a flexible shaft 77 to acontrol crank 78 mounted on the side of the machine above the switches56 and 67. The crank 78 may conveniently have a counter 79 associatedtherewith which registers the number of turns imparted to the worm '75and indicates the extent to which the ring gear 72 has been advanced orretarded relative to the gear 69 and the printer transmission.

The printer transmission 47 and selector switch 56 and the sealertransmission 46 and selector switch 67 provide a wide range of possibleadjustments of the pouch length formed by the machine. It will beappreciated that as many gears and switches may be provided in eachtransmission as is desired. In addition the number of possible pouchlength adjustments can be further multiplied with each additional set ofinterchangeable gears 3738 and 2932 provided with the machine. In anyselected position of pouch length adjustment the location of thetransverse seal can be adjusted relative to the pouch area indicatingindicia by manipulation of the crank 78. It is accordingly practical touse the same machine for packaging a wide variety of sizes of articles Aas the pouch length can be quickly adjusted to accommodate one size ofarticle after a number of a different size article have been packaged.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a pouch type packaging machine having means for receiving articleson a continuously advanced Web of Wrapping material and forming a pouchpackage around the articles including means for transversely sealing andcutting the web after the sides of the pouch are sealed,

adjustable means for indicating different pouch areas on said web andfor actuating the means for sealing and severing the Web between saidpouch areas comprising a first drive including an interchangeable set ofgears connected to advance and longitudinally seal the sides of said webat different speeds,

a printer positioned to operate on the incoming web and having anelectrically actuated control connected to operate the printer,

a second drive including a one revolution clutch connected to actuatesaid transverse sealer and cutter,

a printer actuating transmission including plural switches actuated atdifferent frequencies and each connected to the control of said printer,

a selector switch connected to selectively energize one of the switchesof said printer transmission to said printer control,

a sealer and cutter actuating transmission driven in timed relationshipto said printer transmission and including a plurality of switchesactuated at different frequencies and connected to actuate said clutch,

a second selector switch having a plurality of contacts connected toselectively energize said switches of said sealer transmission,

a differential drive connected between said sealer transmission and saiddrive to said transmissions whereby the times of closing the switches insaid sealer transmission may be advanced and retarded relative to thetime of closing of the selected switch in said printer transmission,

said difierential connection including an adjusting crank operable fromthe exterior of the machine and having a visible counter dial recordingthe number of advancing and retracting rotations of the adjustingelement of the differential connection.

2. In a pouch type packaging machine having means for receiving articleson a continuously advanced web of wrapping material and forming a pouchpackage around the articles including means for transversely sealing andcutting the web after the sides of the pouch are sealed, adjustablemeans for indicating different pouch areas on said web and for actuatingthe means forsealing and severing the web between said pouch areascomprising a first drive connected to advance and longitudinally sealsaid web,

a printer positioned to operate on the incoming web and having anelectrically actuated control connected to operate the printer,

a second drive including a one revolution clutch connected to actuatesaid transverse sealer and cutter,

a printer actuating transmission including plural switches actuated atdifferent frequencies and each connected to the control of said printer,

a selector switch connected to selectively energize one of the switchesof said printer transmission to said printer control,

a sealer and cutter actuating transmission driven in timed relationshipto said printer transmission and including a plurality of switchesactuated at different frequencies and connected to actuate said clutch,

a second selector switch having a plurality of contacts connected toselectively energize said switches of said sealer transmission,

a differential drive connected between said sealer transmission and saiddrive to said transmissions whereby the times of closing the switches insaid sealer transmission may be advanced and retarded relative to thetime of closing of the selected switch in said printer transmission,said differential connection including an adjusting crank operable fromthe exterior of the machine. 3. In a pouch type packaging machine havingmeans for continuously advancing a web of wrapping material and forminga pouch package around articles placed on the web including means fortransversely sealing and cutting the web after the sides of the pouchare sealed,

adjustable means for indicating diiferent pouch areas on said web andactuating the means .for sealing and severing the web between said pouchareas comprising a first drive connected to advance and longitudinallyseal said web at difiierent speeds,

a printer positioned to operate on the incrming web and having anelectrically actuated control connected to operate the printer,

second intermittent drive including a one revolution clutch connected toactuate said transverse sealer and cutter,

a printer actuating transmission including plural switches eachconnected to the control of said printer,

a elector switch connected to selectively connect one of the switches ofsaid printer transmission to said printer control,

a sealer and cutter actuating transmission driven in timed relationshipto said printer transmission and including a plurality of switchesactuated at different frequencies and connected to actuate said clutchof said intermittent drive,

a second selector switch having apluralityof contacts connected toselectively energize said switches of said sealer transmission,

and a diiferential driveconnected between said sealer transmission andsaid drive to said transmissions whereby the times of closing theswitches in said sealer transmission may be advanced and retardedrelative to the time of closing of the selected switch in said printertransmission.

4. In a pouch type packaging machine having means for continuouslyadvancing a web of wrapping material and forming a pouch package aroundarticles placed on the web including means for transversely sealing theweb after the sides of the pouch are sealed,

adjustable means for indicating'ditferent pouch areas on said webandactuating the means for sealing the web between said pouch areascomprising a first drive connected to advance said web,

a printer positioned to operate on the incoming web and having anelectrically actuated control connected to operate the printer,

a second intermittent drive connected to actuate said transverse sealer,

a printer actuating transmission including plural switches eachconnected to the control of said printer,

a selector switch connected to selectively connect one of the switchesof said printer transmission to said printer control,

a sealer and cutter actuating transmission driven in timed relationshipto said printer transmission and including a plurality of switchesactuated at different frequencies andconnected to actuate saidintermittent drive,

a second selector switch having a plurality of contacts connected toselectively energize said switches of said sealer transmission,

and a diflerential drive connected between said drive to said printertransmission and said sealer transmission whereby the times of closingthe switches in said sealer transmission may be advanced and retardedrelative to the time of closing of the selected switch in said printertransmission.

5. In a pouch type packaging machine having means forcontinuouslyadvancing a web of Wrappingmaterial and forming a pouchpackage aroundarticles placed on theb web including means fortransversely sealing the adjustable means for indicating different pouchareas on said web and actuating the means for sealing the web betweensaid pouch areas comprising a first drive connected to advance said webat diiferent speeds,

a printer positioned to operate on the incoming web and having anelectrically actuated control connected to operate the printer,

a second intermittent drive having an electrically controlled actuatingelement and connected to actuate said means for transversely sealingsaid web,

a printer actuating transmission including plural switches eachconnected to the control of said printer,

a selector switch selectively connectable in series with one of theswitches of said printer transmission to render said one switchoperative,

a sealer actuating transmission driven in timed relationship to saidprinter transmission and including a plurality of switches actuated atdifferent frequencies and connected to said actuating element of saidintermittent drive,

a second selector switch selectively connectable in series with one ofthe switches of said sealer transmission to render said one sealertransmission switch operative,

and a differential drive connected between said drive to one of saidtransmissions and the transmission whereby the times of closing theswitches of the one transmission may be advanced and retarded relativeto the time of closing of the selected switch in the other transmission,

said differential connection including a crank operable from theexterior of the machine.

6. In a pouch type packaging machine having means for continuouslyadvancing a web of wrapping material and forming a pouch package aroundarticles placed on the web including means for transversely sealing theweb,

adjustable means for indicating diiferent pouch areas on said web andactuating the means for sealing the web between said pouch areascomprising a first drive connected to advance said web at differentspeeds,

a printer positioned to operate on the incoming web and having anelectrically actuated control conneoted to operate the printer,

a second intermittent drive having an electrically controlled actuatingelement and connected to actuate said means for transversely sealingsaid web,

a printer actuating transmission including plural switches eachconnected to the control of said printer,

a selector switch selectively connectable in series with one of theswitches of said printer transmission to render said one switchoperative,

a sealer actuating transmission driven in timed relationship to saidprinter transmission and including a plurality of switches actuated atdifferent frequencies and connected to said actuating element of saidintermittent drive,

a second selector switch selectively connectable in series with one ofthe switches of said sealer transmission to render said one sealertransmission switch operative,

and a differential drive connected between said drive to one of saidtransmissions and the transmission whereby the times of closing theswitches of the one transmission may be advanced and retarded relativeto the time of closing of the selected switch in the other transmission.

7. A pouch packaging machine comprising means for advancing a web ofwrapping material over a loading conveyor and forming a pouch overarticles placed on the web,

means for transversely sealing said pouch,

electrically actuated marking means positioned to mark pouch areaindicating marks on said web at the beginning of said conveyor,

a first transmission having a plurality of switches actuated atdifferent frequencies by operation of the transmission,

a first selector switch connected to selectively render one of saidtransmission switches effective to actuate said marking means,

a second electrically actuated means for actuating said transversesealing means,

a second transmission having a plurality of switches actuated atdifierent frequencies by operation of the transmission,

a second selector switch connected to selectively render one of theswitches of said second transmission effective to actuate secondelectrically actuated means,

and means connected to drive said transmission simultaneously in timedrelation with said conveyor,

there being a differential drive connection with a manually operablecontrol interposed between one of said transmissions and said last drivemeans to advance and retract the rotation of said transmis 10 sionsrelative to each other.

' 8. A pouch packaging machine comprising means for advancing a web ofwrapping material over a loading conveyor and forming a pouch overarticles placed on the web,

1 means for transversely sealing said pouch,

electrically actuated marking means positioned to mark pouch areaindicating marks on said web at the beginning of said conveyor,

a first transmission having a plurality of switches actuated atdifferent frequencies by operation of the transmission,

a first selector switch connected to selectivly render one of saidtransmission switches eilective to actuate said marking means,

a second electrically actuated means for actuating said transversesealing means,

a second transmission having a plurality of switches actuated atdiflerent frequencies by operation of the transmission,

a second selector switch connected to selectively render one of theswitches of said second transmission effective to actuate secondelectrically actuated means,

and means connected to drive said transmissions simultaneously in timedrelation with said conveyor,

there being a differential drive connection interposed between one ofsaid transmissions and said last drive means to advance and retract therotation of said transmissions relative to each other.

9. A pouch packaging machine comprising means for advancing a web ofwrapping material over a loading conveyor and forming a pouch overarticles placed on the web,

means for transversely sealing said pouch,

electrically actuated marking means positioned to mark pouch areaindicating marks on said web at the beginning of said conveyor,

a first transmission having a plurality of switches actuated atdifferent frequencies by operation of the transmission,

a first selector switch connected to selectively render one of saidtransmission switches effective to actuate said marking means,

a second electrically actuated means for actuating said transversesealing means,

a second transmission having a plurality of switches actuated atdifferent frequencies by operation of the transmission,

a second selector switch connected to selectivly render one of theswitches of said second transimssion effective to actuate secondelectrically actuated means,

and means connected to drive said transmissions simultaneously in timedrelation with said conveyor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,578,799 Grey Dec. 18, 1951 2,611,225 Williams Sept. 23, 1952 2,871,639Forgo Feb. 3, 1959 2,996,860 Willbrandt Aug. 22, 1961

9. A POUCH PACKAGING MACHINE COMPRISING MEANS FOR ADVANCING A WEB OFWRAPPING MATERIAL OVER A LOADING CONVEYOR AND FORMING A POUCH OVERARTICLES PLACED ON THE WEB, MEANS FOR TRANSVERSELY SEALING SAID POUCH,ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED MARKING MEANS POSITIONED TO MARK POUCH AREAINDICATING MARKS ON SAID WEB AT THE BEGINNING OF SAID CONVEYOR, A FIRSTTRANSMISSION HAVING A PLURALITY OF SWITCHES ACTUATED AT DIFFERENTFREQUENCIES BY OPERATION OF THE TRANSMISSION, A FIRST SELECTOR SWITCHCONNECTED TO SELECTIVELY RENDER ONE OF SAID TRANSMISSION SWITCHESEFFECTIVE TO ACTUATE SAID MARKING MEANS, A SECOND ELECTRICALLY ACTUATEDMEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID TRANSVERSE SEALING MEANS, A SECOND TRANSMISSIONHAVING A PLURALITY OF SWITCHES ACTUATED AT DIFFERENT FREQUENCIES BYOPERATION OF THE TRANSMISSION, A SECOND SELECTOR SWITCH CONNECTED TOSELECTIVELY RENDER ONE OF THE SWITCHES OF SAID SECOND TRANSMISSIONEFFECTIVE TO ACTUATE SECOND ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED MEANS, AND MEANSCONNECTED TO DRIVE SAID TRANSMISSIONS SIMULTANEOUSLY IN TIMED RELATIONWITH SAID CONVEYOR.